History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 162

Author: Crumrine, Boyd, 1838-1916; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Hungerford, Austin N
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : H.L. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 1216

USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 162

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Mr. Speers obtained a patent for "Speers' Intent" Jan. 12, 1789.

On the 18th November, 1785, a warrant was issued to Henry Speers for a tract of land "lying on Maple Creek, adjoining Edward Jackman, Frederick Cooper, and other lands of Henry Speers." This tract was surveyed to him on the 13th December às "Spice-Wood Hill," and found to contain one hun- dred and ninety-eight acres.

A tract of land called "Fair View," lying on the Monongahela River, adjoining Peter Casner on the south, was warranted to Jeremiah Proctor June 13, 1785, and surveyed Nov. 26, 1785, as "Fair View," containing three hundred and thirty-seven acres. In Survey Book No. 1 it is stated, in reference to the above warrant, that " Henry Speers produced an ap- plication and order of survey in the name of Nathan Harman for 300 acres, dated Aug. 26, 1769, No. 3768, and requested it should have preference of seniority." The surveys of the two tracts are identical, but it is not stated to whom the warrant was returned.

Henry Speers resided all his married life on the tract "Speers' Intent." He was one of the original members of the Baptist Church "Enon," which was organized near his place, and to which he ministered many years as pastor. He was licensed to preach May 5, 1793, and ordained as their pastor in March, 1797. His name appears as delegate to the Redstone Association in 1796 from Enon Church, at which time that church was admitted. He remained the pastor of the church until his death in 1840. The farm on which he resided came into possession of his son Apollos, and is now owned by Noah and Solomon Speers, sons of Apollos. The brick dwelling in which Noah Speers now resides was built by his grandfather, Henry, in 1806. Of his thirteen children, Dr. J. S. Van Voorhis says, "His son Henry was a soldier in the war of 1812; was in the battle of New Orleans with Gen. Jackson; lived for many years in the log house where Jacob Norris now resides, but died many years ago in the old log house on Maple Creek in which Joseph Beazel now lives. Samuel was also a soldier in the war of 1812. Exposure in the army caused him to be a cripple in his last days, which were passed in the brick house at the ferry. John passed most of his life at Dunbar, Fayette Co., Pa., where he followed milling and farming. He had quite a large family, some of whom have passed away. His heirs still own the farm above the ferry. One of the daughters of Henry Speers married George Hill, of Ten-Mile. Another was the wife of William Ward, deceased. Katy married John McCrory, brother of the late Thomas, Seneca, James, and William Mc- Crory, of Fayette City, Pa. Apollos, the remaining son, was born Sept. 8, 1801. After his marriage he lived for a time at Fish Pot, on Ten-Mile ; with this exception he lived at the ferry until his death, which occurred in 1857. His wife was Elizabeth Cooper, daughter of the late Valentine Cooper."

The Riggs family came from the Eastern Shore of Maryland in 1773, and settled near the Monongahela River. William Riggs, who had married Mary Downdson, was at one time a vestryman in the Epis- copal Church, in 1794 and earlier. On June 25, 1797, he made application to the Methodist Confer- ence to be licensed as a minister, which was accord- ingly done at Greenfield Quarterly Meeting, April 26, 1799, by Daniel Hill. His ordination was signed

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ALLEN TOWNSHIP.

by Francis Asbury in 1807. William Riggs died in 1833, aged eighty-four years. He had thirteen chil- dren, all dead except Mahlon Riggs, the youngest, who is now in his eighty-fourth year. The William Riggs tract is in his possession. His sons are Wil- liam M. and John L., residing in Allen township. Jeremiah E. Riggs sold to William Riggs, June 27, 1796, one hundred and twenty-five acres, being a part of a tract sold by Bazil Stoker to Jeremiah Riggs, March 25, 1780, containing three hundred and sixty- one acres, adjoining Joseph Allen, Joseph Chester, and Nathan Ellis. Patented to Jeremiah E. Riggs April 13, 1795. The names of the old family were William, Jeremiah, Jonas, Thomas, Zachariah, Noah, Mahlon, Eleanor, Alvilar, Mary, Lucy, Betsey, and Annie.

Lawrence and John Crow were settlers who came to this county in the year 1784. Lawrence made application for a tract of land, which was warranted to him August 31st in that year, and surveyed on the 16th of December following. It was named "Crow's Egg," and contained two hundred and ninety-five acres. His brother John located land adjoining, for which he obtained a warrant July 10, 1786. It was surveyed June 9, 1787, as "Dear Purchase," and con- tained three hundred and eighty-two acres. This tract joined William Jackman, Joseph Allen, Wil- liam Howe, and Joshua Dixon. The two brothers lived here on these farms and died before 1796, as in that year the lands of William Howe are mentioned as "adjoining the lands of the heirs of Lawrence and John Crow and others." Margaret, the wife of John Crow, lived many years later, and died at the advanced age of one hundred and nine years. The children of these two men grew up and intermarried with families of that section, and left numerous descendants. Clark Crow lives on one hundred and thirty-five acres of the John Crow tract. Dr. Henry C. Chalfant and William Huggins are descendants. The lands taken up by them are still mostly in the possession of dif- ferent branches of the family.

Peter Hazelbaker came to the United States 1 from Anspach, Germany, as an English soldier during the Revolution; was taken prisoner by the American forces; was never exchanged, and never returned to his native land. Peter shortly after the war married Miss Elizabeth Shively, daughter of Daniel Shively,. of Berkeley County, Va. Soon after their marriage Peter and wife emigrated to Washington County, Pa., and settled in an old log house on the farm now owned by S. A. Chester, in Allen township. This was in the beginning of the present century, but in what year we are not informed. He died in 1800, and his remains were buried in the field just above the present residence of Maj. Henry Sphar. Peter had six sons. · Their names were Peter, Daniel, John, Jacob, Abra-

ham, and George. John was one of the old-time school-teachers, and was the first man who ever taught school in Belle Vernon. His school-house was the present residence of Mrs. Mary Corwin, on Main Street in that town. He died years ago in Iowa. Daniel died in Indiana. Peter died six weeks after the death of his father, and was buried with his father in the Sphar graveyard. Abraham died near Brush Creek, in Ohio. Jacob lived for many years in the stone house a short distance above Belle Vernon, now owned by R. C. Schmertz & Co. He removed to a farm near Perryopolis about thirty years ago. George lived beyond all his brothers. He married Matilda Dunlevy, sister of the late Andrew Dunlevy, who died in 1853.

George Hazelbaker first lived in Belle Vernon, where he built the house on Main Street now occupied by Rebecca Laneheart. He afterwards resided on the farm where John B. Gould now lives; then on the Johnson, the Rutan, the Cooper farms, and finally in 1841 he purchased the farm in Allen township (on which he died) from Abia Allen and Robert Stockdale. His sons Andrew and Joseph died many years since. Anthony lives in Illinois; Jacob now resides near Foxburg, in the oil regions; George, Jr., resides near the home farm; and John, Jr., since his marriage has taken care of his father on the homestead ; Matilda married Joseph Wolf, and resides in the West; Mary married John Cooper, now deceased, and lives in the West; Sarah Ann is the wife of Addison Cummings, and lives in Allen township ; Margaret was the wife of R. C. Guffey, of North Belle Vernon. He belongs to the Guffey family which has been so long identified with politics in Westmoreland County. The late Shively Hazelbaker, who many years ago occupied the Shepler Hotel in town, was a nephew of the de- ceased. George Hazelbaker died June 23, 1880, aged ninety-two years .. In his seventy-fifth year he united with Rehoboth Church, and remained in that member- "ship until his death. He was a good citizen, a genial neighbor, and above all a Christian.

From the assessment-roll of 1788 for Fallowfield are taken the following names of persons taxable in that township, and resident in that part of it which is now included in Allen, viz .: Joseph Allen, Eli Allen, John Allen, Joseph Chester, Lawrence Crow, Samuel Dixon, Joshua Dixon, Henry Dixon, Edward Earl, Nathan Ellis, James Ellis, Jesse Ellis, Hezekiah Ellis, David England, John Nixon, John Sprowls, John Finney, William Jackman, John Justice, Jere- miah Riggs, William Riggs, Edmund Riggs, Clement Riggs, Henry Speers. Mr. Mahlon Riggs, now (No- vember, 1881) living in Allen at the age of eighty- four years, recollects that many of those above named were still living here at the commencement of the war of 1812 against Great Britain.

Thomas Stockdale, who was of English parentage, emigrated to this country and settled in Montgomery County, Pa., and from there came to this county late

1 This account of Hazelbaker, like those of many other early settlers in this section, is from the papers of Dr. J. S. Van Voorhis.

646

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

in the year 1799. His people were Quakers. On the 12th of April, 1800, he purchased one hundred acres of land of Joseph Allen, a part of the tract patented by him under the name of " Allen's Delight." On the 5th of June the next year he purchased one hun- dred acres adjoining, and of the same tract, On this farm 'Mr. Stockdale lived and died, leaving one son, Robert, who inherited the homestead, where he also lived until his death, Dec. 15, 1878, in his seventy- eighth year. He was twice married; the first time to Deborah Allen, the second to Dorcas Price, who sur- vives him. His sons Joseph, Cyrus, and Martin occupy the old residence and homestead farm.

Joshua Dixon about 1784 or 1785 became the owner of several large tracts of land along the river, one of which, "Balimoab," contained one hundred and eighty acres. He patented Oct. 2, 1784, another tract of two hundred acres called "Joshua's Hall," for which he received a patent Sept. 10, 1790. These two tracts were adjoining Joseph Allen's land. An- other tract called "American Bottoms" was also patented to him. Title to this tract was contested by other claimants. On the 10th of September, 1805, he sold to Samuel Hecklin, of New Castle, Del., and Emmanuel Dixon two hundred acres of land, parts of the two first mentioned tracts; and on the 9th of January, 1806, he sold to Samuel Hecklin a part of both tracts. On the 13th of December, 1813, Mr. Hecklin sold to John Finney and Thomas Young each a parcel of the above land. These parcels are described as being on Williams' Run, the deeds "reserving and excepting one-half the profits of a supposed copper and gold mine on the east fork of Williams' Run." The name of Dixon is now extinct in the township.

William Huggins was a native of Ireland who emi- grated to the United States in 1775, and lived for a time in the eastern part of Pennsylvania, and later removed to Washington County. He settled in Fal- lowfield township, now Allen. Soon after his arrival he married Jane Crow, by whom he had twelve chil- dren. Of this number two are still living,-Mrs. Lucy Gregg, of Brownsville, Fayette County, and Thomas C. Huggins, of Washington County. Of the descendants of the family are William T. Huggins, of Allenport ; Mrs. Mary A. Rideout, Sandusky County, Ohio; and Jacob Huggins, of the borough of Cali- fornia.

David England, as early as 1784, obtained a war- rant for a tract of land of one hundred and seventy- two acres, which was surveyed to him as "River Farm." On the 15th of August, 1804, he conveyed this tract to his sons, John, Israel, Isaac, and David, Jr. John, the eldest brother, bought out all the heirs, and in 1828 sold the tract to Joseph Allen. David Eng- land had four daughters, -- Elizabeth (Mrs. Kimberly), Susannah (Mrs. Hollingshead), Mary (Mrs. Icehour), and Sarah (Mrs. Allen). But little else is known of the family. The property fell into other hands, and

there are now none of the name in the township. It was on the England lands that the town of Independ- ence was laid out.

William Howe was an Englishman. He came to the West with the United States troops at the time of the Whiskey Insurrection, and here remained. He married Margaret Jackman. On the 30th of March, 1796, he took out a warrant for a tract, which was sur- veyed to him the 5th of September following as "Malabar," containing three hundred and twenty acres. It was situated on the bank of the river, ad- joining lands of Robert and Henry Jackman, and the heirs of Laurence and John Crow. Mr. Howe lived here until his death, and was buried in what is known as the Howe Cemetery. The Howe Church was erected on his farm. He and his wife were prominent in the early history of Methodism in this section, and were foremost in the establishment of this church. The date of his death has not been found. His widow, Elizabeth Howe, died March 16, 1834, at the age of sixty-two years. They had fourteen children, who are now all dead. Two went to Virginia; two daughters married and went to Canada; two sons emigrated to Illinois; Alexander and Samuel re- mained in this county. The former married Elizabeth Rush, William Howe, Esq., of California, Pa., is their son. Samuel married Lydia Morrell. Johnson Howe, a son, emigrated to Illinois. Lydia Riggs, now living in the township, and eighty years of age, is a granddaughter of William Howe.

Joseph Allen, an English Quaker, emigrated to this country about 1770, and about 1772 came to Wash- ington County with his wife, Deborah (Hill), and took out a warrant for a tract of land lying on the Monon- gahela River, for which he received a patent from Thomas and John Penn dated Dec. 22, 1774. This tract was named " Allenton." Ten years later he took a warrant dated Aug. 31, 1784, for a tract which was surveyéd December 15th of that year as " Allen's Delight," and contained three hundred and fifty-four acres. It was situated on the Monongahela River, and was two hundred and twenty-six perches along the river, "adjoining his other land and lands of Da- vid England." On the 28th of March, 1799, he divided his real estate, consisting of over eight hundred acres, into eight parts, reserving one for himself and giving one to each of his children (except Benjamin), viz .: Eli, John, Samuel, William, Joshua, Ema (Mrs. Thomas Stockdale), and Deborah (Mrs. James Win- ders). The son Benjamin, not included in the above division, was made chargeable for his support on the others. A deed was given to John Allen, April 8, 1800, for one hundred acres, a part of the tract " Allen's Delight," and to Samuel, April 12th, the same year, for one hundred acres, a part of both tracts, " Allenton" and " Allen's Delight." To William, on . the 8th of April, 1800, for one hundred acres, also parts of both the above-mentioned tracts; and on the 12th of April the same year to Ema (Mrs. Thomas

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RESIDENCE OF GEORGE C. MAXWELL, ALLEN TOWNSHIP, WASHINGTON CO., PA.

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ALLEN TOWNSHIP.

Stockdale), for one hundred and one acres, a part of " Allen's Delight."

Joseph Allen died in 1839, in the township, at an advanced age. Eli, the eldest son, emigrated to In- diana. Mrs. Sarah Wolf and Joanna McKey are granddaughters of Joseph Allen.

William Jackman patented a tract of three hundred and forty-seven acres, called "Hobson's Choice," April 9, 1788, adjoining Joseph Chester. This tract was divided by the provisions of his will made on the 3d of April, 1818. Within a few years the land was in possession of John Jackman, Seth Buffington, John Ringland, and Jehu Jackman. The last named was elected sheriff of the county in 1843, and member of the Legislature in 1853.

An order of survey, No. 1939 (recently in possession of Nathan Lynn), was taken out in 1769 in favor of Robert Jackman. It was surveyed on the 16th of December in that year by the name of "Ararat," and contained two hundred and twenty-two acres. It was located on the Monongahela River, adjoining lands of Samuel Dixon.

Joseph Chester took up a tract of land adjoining the William Jackman tract. His descendants are still in the township, and part of the original tract is in the hands of the family.

· Independence, or Allenport .- The land on which this village is laid out is part of a tract of land located on the Monongahela that was granted to Henry Dixon, Aug. 13, 1784, and surveyed December 15th of the same year under the name of " Dixon's Intent," containing one hundred and forty-two acres. It was patented by him on the 28th of June, 1786. On the 29th- of April, 1816, a deed was made by Henry Dixon to John Baldwin of one hundred and eighty-two acres. of land, part of the above patent. Arrangements for laying out a village upon it had been made previously, as is evident from the following advertisement which appeared in the Washington Reporter of March 18, 1816 :

"NEW TOWN-TOWN LOTS FOR SALE.

"The Subscriber has laid off a new town on the western bank of the Monongahela River, in Washington County and State of Pennsylvania, called . West Freeport,' immediately opposite to Freeport,1 which is ou the eastern bank of said river, in Fayette County, and offers for sale therein forty-five lots of ground, which will be sold at public vendue on the 15th day of April next, on the premises, sale to commence at 10 o'clock in the forenoon.

" West Freeport is situate in the midst of a very wealthy settlement, and presents as many natural advantages to men of enterprise and in- dustry as any other site in the western country. Glass-works, as well as other manufactories might be established and carried on at this place to great advantage, as materials for such purposes are found in grent abun- dance within its vicinity. There is an excellent grist- and saw-mill at the place and places of public worship within a very short distance. A turnpike road i+ expected to be made from Bedford, in Bedford County, to Washington, in Washington County, Pa., which, if carried on or near to a straight line from the one place to the other, will pass through West Freeport. JOHN BALDWIN.

" WEST FREEPORT, March 7, 1816."

1 What is now Fayette City was originally laid out by Edward Cook as Freeport, and known as such till about 1820, from which time it gradu- ally assumed the name of Cookstown, which it held till the change to the present name by act of Legislature in 1854.

No lots seem to have been sold by Mr. Baldwin in this new town, and on the 1st of May, 1817, he con- veyed seventy-nine acres to Joseph Allen, who, on the 29th May, 1828, purchased one hundred and seventy- two acres of land of David England (a part of the tract patented by England), adjoining the above. On the 30th January, 1839, one hundred and twenty-one acres of it was sold by the administrators of Joseph Allen to Francis McKee, who about 1850 laid out the town of Independence. Lots 55 and 56, on the corner of Broadway and Liberty Streets, were sold to Daven- port Philips, Aug. 17, 1852. On the 27th of July, 1853, lot No. 9 was sold to Henry Stimel. The next sale which is recorded is five years later, the deed bearing date Dec. 4, 1858. It was made to Robert Fields, " for and in consideration of the sum of twenty cents (the price of taking me and old Charley across the river and back)." It was designated as lot No. 2, on Water Street. He says in the deed, " The consideration and the principal reason for my giving the above described plot of ground is because I thought him a poor, good boy, and hope he may make a rich, good man, never steal, get drunk, swear, or play cards, but be honest and industrious, and it is my desire and design that if Robert should die before he comes to years of twenty- one the lot should go to his sister Liza." From this time other lots were sold, and in 1865 the name was changed from Independence to Allenport, and a plat filed in the recorder's office at the county-seat.

The mill property north of the town now owned by George Maxwell was a part of the one hundred and eighty-two acres purchased by Baldwin of Henry Dixon in 1816. He sold seventy-nine acres to Allen, and kept the remainder many years. He built the mill which still retains the name. On the 10th of April, 1832, he sold forty-five acres (the mill property ) to Joseph Allen, who conveyed it to Abia Allen on the 29th June the same year. After keeping it about two years he sold it, Oct. 10, 1834, to William Brightwell, who two years later (Nov. 3, 1836) sold to Isaiah Frost, by whom it was kept twelve years, and on Jan. 15, 1848, by an article of agreement, it was sold to Francis McKee, and later his administrator gave therefor a deed. McKee retained it till March 29, 1853, when he sold to James B. Angell. Soon after the purchase by McKee the present mill was erected and called Etma. From this time steam was used, the old mill having used water-power.

The ferry a short distance north of the town was started after the property came into possession of Mr. McKee. On·the 13th of September, 1861, he con- veyed to Thornton S. Chalfant the land known as the "Ferry Property," and Chalfant was "to have the entire ferry privilege from the lands of Joseph Krepps down the river shore to the lands of Isaiah Frost's heirs ;" possession was obtained April 1, 1862. The ferry passed through several hands, and in Decem- ber, 1872, it was sold by Alexander S. Latta to Wil- liam C. Huggins, who still owns it.

648

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

The present village of Allenport contains twenty- three dwellings, four stores, the depot of the Pittsburgh, Virginia and Charleston Railroad, a blacksmith- shop, post-office, school-house, and one physician, Dr. Mitchell. An early resident physician here was Dr. Ostrander Todd, who practiced many years and until his death not long since.

The post-office was established at this place under the name of Belle Zane. The first and only postmas- ter is John Fields. "Clark's Coalery," one of the most noted coal banks along the Monongahela, is at this place, but is not now in operation. A number of other collieries located along the river in the upper part of this township have been in successful opera- tion for several years, shipping their coal by the Mo- nongahela slack-water to Pittsburgh and the ports on the lower Ohio. The names of the principal coal- works (and settlements clustered around them ) on the river in this township are the "Champion," "Lime- town," "Courtney's," "Lucyville" (the last named a mining hamlet of twenty houses), and the " Ameri -. can Bottom," or " Wood's Run," which is a place of fifty dwellings, of which many are good and even fine structures, and four stores. The collieries of this township are more fully mentioned in the general history of the county.

Schools in Allen Township .- About the year 1800, Benjamin Huff taught a school in what is now the township of Allen. He was succeeded by William Jackman, -. Bedford, Robert Wilson, and Solo- mon Allen. The school-house stood near the "Fal- lowfield" Quaker Church (now known as "Mount Tabor"). John Jackman and Newton Williams taught in the Quaker Church in 1827-28. Upon the organ- ization of the township into school districts in 1835, the territory of Allen township was embraced in East Pike Run and Fallowfield school districts, and so re- mained until the organization of the township in 1853, when the school directors elected that year or- ganized the township into three school districts. The following was the condition of the schools in 1863, 1873, 1880, taken from the reports of public instruc- tion :

1863 .- Whole number of schools, 3; teachers, 3; scholars enrolled, 200. Total amount of receipts for school purposes, $368.25; expenditures, $360.79.

1878 .- Whole number of schools, 3; teachers, 3; scholars enrolled, 188. Total amount of receipts for school purposes, $1303.61; expenditures, $992.87.

1880 .- Whole number of schools, 5; teachers, 5; scholars enrolled, 312. Total amount of receipts for school purposes, $1046.99; expenditures, $989.04.

The following-named persons were and have been elected school directors in Allen during its separate existence as a township :

1853 .- Azariah Crow, Joseph Krepps, Jehu Jackman, Andrew Dunleavy, Thomas C. Huggins, Jackman Crow, William C. Wolf, Elias Howe, William Fields,

1854 .- Joseph Krepps, John Frye.

1855 .- Hiram Jackman, Hugh McKee.

1856 .- Azariah Crow, John G. Martin, Samuel Clark.

1857 .- Simeon Jackman, Henry Spahr.

1858 .- O. D. Todd, H. I. Furnier.

1859 .- John G. Martin, Robert Stockdale.

1860 .- Azariah Crow, Jolın P. Nixon.

1861 .- Jobn Donaldson, Samuel A. Chester.

1862 .- William Johnson, John G. Martin.

1863 .- Jolin J. Nixon, Azariah Crow. 1864 .- R. J. Latta, T. F. Chalfant. 1865 .- John G. Martin, William S. Krepps.

1866 .- A. Crow, John Spalır.

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History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 162

Author: Crumrine, Boyd, 1838-1916; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Hungerford, Austin N Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Philadelphia : H.L. Everts & Co. Number of Pages: 1216

Author: Crumrine, Boyd, 1838-1916; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Hungerford, Austin N
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : H.L. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 1216